Jet pilot recovering after ejecting before NC ocean crash

The pilot of a Marine Harrier jet is recovering after ejecting from the airplane just before it crashed just off the coast of North Carolina.

Beachgoers at Wrightsville Beach saw the burning jet hit the water at the edge of the horizon around 5 p.m. Friday.

Marine Lt. Maida Zheng said in a press release the pilot was rescued and is in stable condition at Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune.

Zheng says the jet was part of Marine Attack Squadron 542, Marine Aircraft Group 14, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. The pilot took off from Wilmington International Airport for training. The pilot’s name has not been released.

Officials say the jet crashed about 1.5 miles offshore. No one else was injured.